I think it's a sign of maturity that I can consider my workout a success because I went slow. Like the old bull once figured out, you can do it for longer, if you do it slower!
I was out the door shortly after 8, and I knew right away that the only possible way I was gonna run 30 kms today was if I ran slower than I've ever done. Not just was I still a bit tired, but it promised to get very warm, and very humid, quite quickly. I was determined not to let the watch win the battle today, and in actual fact the main purpose of a watch should be to tell you when you're going too fast.
Typically I do my long runs at a 5:15 pace, but today after the first km I settled very nicely into about 5:37/km, and held it for the entire distance. I had a few tough moments over the last 3 kms, but never enough to put the end in any doubt, and never enough to consider a walking break. As a matter of fact, I did a little forward planning at some point, and realizing that since there were only going to be 5 more long runs after today, that it was as good a time as any to add a wee bit. In the end I managed a perfectly slow, wonderfully reassuring, 31 kms, in a time 2:54:42.
The most important part of that reassurance is the knowledge that I can continue my strategy of long rides/ long runs, with just one day of rest between. This is the first time I've tried that, and for me it is a good compromise between the two contradictory philosophies, of back to back long efforts (ride/run), and the other approach that calls for spreading them out as much as possible.
And as I mentioned that I have only 5 long runs left, the same is true of my long rides, and despite my struggles this past Saturday I feel like I'm on track. It is actually 11 weeks until race day, and so the other 6 weeks are made up of recovery weeks, and a long taper. As a matter of fact one of those recovery weeks includes my first and only test race, which will be the Welland double header on June 14/15. Day 2 of the weekend is of course the half Ironman, the primary purpose of which is to test all my race kit, and even to have a little fun. Lat year it was no fun!!
So I think all is well. Even though I had a decent run, if anything, it has hardened my resolve to make my long rides easier. I need good long rides, followed up by good transition runs, followed up 2 days later by good long runs. And remember that as each week goes by the distance/duration for each of these elements continues to increase.
run 30 kms, 2:54:42
"Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged heart."---William Pitt
Love
Peter
I was out the door shortly after 8, and I knew right away that the only possible way I was gonna run 30 kms today was if I ran slower than I've ever done. Not just was I still a bit tired, but it promised to get very warm, and very humid, quite quickly. I was determined not to let the watch win the battle today, and in actual fact the main purpose of a watch should be to tell you when you're going too fast.
Typically I do my long runs at a 5:15 pace, but today after the first km I settled very nicely into about 5:37/km, and held it for the entire distance. I had a few tough moments over the last 3 kms, but never enough to put the end in any doubt, and never enough to consider a walking break. As a matter of fact, I did a little forward planning at some point, and realizing that since there were only going to be 5 more long runs after today, that it was as good a time as any to add a wee bit. In the end I managed a perfectly slow, wonderfully reassuring, 31 kms, in a time 2:54:42.
The most important part of that reassurance is the knowledge that I can continue my strategy of long rides/ long runs, with just one day of rest between. This is the first time I've tried that, and for me it is a good compromise between the two contradictory philosophies, of back to back long efforts (ride/run), and the other approach that calls for spreading them out as much as possible.
And as I mentioned that I have only 5 long runs left, the same is true of my long rides, and despite my struggles this past Saturday I feel like I'm on track. It is actually 11 weeks until race day, and so the other 6 weeks are made up of recovery weeks, and a long taper. As a matter of fact one of those recovery weeks includes my first and only test race, which will be the Welland double header on June 14/15. Day 2 of the weekend is of course the half Ironman, the primary purpose of which is to test all my race kit, and even to have a little fun. Lat year it was no fun!!
So I think all is well. Even though I had a decent run, if anything, it has hardened my resolve to make my long rides easier. I need good long rides, followed up by good transition runs, followed up 2 days later by good long runs. And remember that as each week goes by the distance/duration for each of these elements continues to increase.
run 30 kms, 2:54:42
"Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged heart."---William Pitt
Love
Peter
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